Trump Seeks To Overturn Defamation Verdict In Author's Sex Abuse Case
Donald Trump and the Justice Department are petitioning the Supreme Court to overturn an $83 million defamation verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case. The appeal argues that presidential immunity should protect Trump from liability for comments made while he was in office.
Why it matters
The case tests the limits of presidential immunity and the application of the Westfall Act, potentially setting a significant legal precedent for executive accountability.
President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are asking the Supreme Court to toss an $83 million defamation verdict won by writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sexual assault, saying he can't be sued for comments he made while he was president.It's the second time Trump has asked the justices to nix damages awarded by a jury to Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and former TV talk show host. The Supreme Court refused in June to hear his appeal of another verdict, for $5 million, that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.The latest case centers on comments Trump made during his first term as president.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in